Erie Cancer Wellness Center

What Erie Cancer Wellness Center does

Erie Cancer Wellness Center (ECWC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2021 and opened in 2022 in Erie, Pennsylvania, delivering free non-medical supportive services to individuals and families affected by cancer across a roughly 100-mile regional radius. The organization operates from a primary facility at 2212 West 15th Street, Unit 104, and delivers a portfolio of evidence-based programs including Wellness and Movement classes (Qigong, Chair Yoga, Restorative Yoga, Fit & Fab, Strength & Balance), peer Support Groups (Women's, Men's, Survivor's, Grief, Ostomy), Art Therapy and Exploration workshops, Healing Arts (Group Reiki, massage), Information and Education (Nutrition, Book Club, Journaling, Salves/Tinctures/Infusions), Wigs and Beauty services, and Children and Families Programs. ECWC supplements its main-site offerings with a mobile outreach program called "Cancer Care Where You Are," delivering gentle yoga, meditation, and journaling sessions at partner venues including McCord Memorial Library, Eastside Family YMCA, McLane Church, Hampton Inn Erie-South, and the UPMC Health Plan Neighborhood Center across North East, Harborcreek, McKean, and Summit locations. Since opening, ECWC has served more than 500 individuals and supplied over 250 wigs.

ECWC is 100% privately funded and receives no government monies or insurance reimbursement. Revenue is generated through tax-deductible individual donations, foundation grants (including Union Printers Home Foundation), corporate and business giving (including The Plastek Group), monthly recurring giving, fundraising events (Benevolent Beers at Erie Ale Works, Senior Day at the Zoo, the annual Duathlon, and the Courage to Grow Campaign), and planned giving through its Legacy Circle program (bequests, trusts, IRA charitable rollovers, real estate, and endowed gifts). The organization is led by Executive Director Jackie Wassel and Program Director Kim Connelly, with a staff of approximately 6 employees supplemented by volunteers supporting front-desk operations 2–4 hours per day, Monday–Friday. Participant acquisition is driven by healthcare provider referrals (notably Allegheny Health Network), word of mouth, community outreach events, and the organization's website and social media presence (Facebook, Instagram, email newsletters including annual Impact Reports).

The organization operates as a service-based nonprofit without proprietary technology; its core "products" are in-person wellness programs, support groups, and complementary therapies rather than technology platforms. ECWC's competitive position rests on its status as the only cancer wellness center within a 100-mile radius of Erie, its comprehensive free-of-charge service model, and a layered ecosystem of community, healthcare, and corporate supporters that creates participant inflow and sustained private funding.

Name

Erie Cancer Wellness Center

Legal name

Erie Cancer Wellness Center

Website

https://eriecancerwellness.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Erie Cancer Wellness Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Erie, Pennsylvania that provides free non-medical wellness services — including movement classes, support groups, art therapy, healing arts, and wigs — to individuals and families affected by cancer within a 100-mile regional radius.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cancer Wellness Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Other Individual and Family Services (62419)

SIC

Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Chronic Condition Lifestyle Coaching (Non-Clinical) (HSADAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Group Fitness, Personal Training & Wellness Coaching (EDALAIAE)

Keywords

• Cancer wellness services
• Nonprofit support programs
• Integrative oncology care
• Cancer caregiver support
• Community health nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Erie

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and families supporting the ECWC mission
2. Foundation Grants: Support from foundations including Union Printers Home Foundation and other grant-making organizations
3. Corporate/Business Giving: Support from businesses such as The Plastek Group and corporate sponsors
4. Planned Giving/Legacy Circle: Bequests, trusts, IRA charitable rollover, real estate, and endowed gifts through Legacy Circle program
5. Monthly Giving Program: Recurring donations from monthly supporters

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Erie Cancer Wellness Center provides free, non-medical wellness and supportive care services to cancer patients, survivors, and their caregivers throughout the Erie, Pennsylvania region. Its programming covers movement-based classes (such as yoga), massage, nutrition counseling, peer support groups, and educational workshops that complement clinical oncology care. All offerings are delivered at no cost to participants and are funded through donations, grants, and sponsorships.

Product overview

The Erie Cancer Wellness Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization offering a unified portfolio of free, non-medical wellness programs and services for individuals and families affected by cancer. The center provides evidence-based healing classes, support groups, creative arts therapies, and complementary wellness services. The core offerings include Wellness and Movement Programs (yoga, qigong, exercise classes), Support Groups (gender-specific and condition-specific), Art Therapy and Exploration, Healing Arts (massgage and reiki), Information and Education, Cancer Care Where You Are mobile outreach, Children and Families Programs, and Wigs and Beauty Services. All programs are provided free of charge and are funded entirely through private donations and fundraising events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Movement and Yoga Classes
• Massage Therapy Sessions
• Nutrition Counseling
• Peer Support Groups
• Educational Workshops

Quantifiable outcome

• 500+ people served since opening in 2022
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• UPMC Health Plan Neighborhood CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerECWC provides monthly wellness classes and cancer wellness resources at the UPMC Health Plan Neighborhood Center location on the second and fourth Mondays of each month. Classes include yoga sessions and informational presentations about ECWC services, with ECWC staff present from 12:30-2:30 PM.
• McCord Memorial LibraryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides space for Cancer Care Where You Are program sessions including gentle yoga, meditation, reflection, and journaling activities.
• Eastside Family YMCA - HarborcreekminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides space for Cancer Care Where You Are wellness classes including gentle yoga, meditation/reflection, and journaling sessions.
• McLane Church - McKeanminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides space for Cancer Care Where You Are program including gentle yoga, meditation and reflection, followed by journaling activities.
• Hampton Inn Erie-South (Summit)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides space for Cancer Care Where You Are - Summit program including gentle yoga, meditation/reflection, and journaling with journals provided.
• Erie Ale WorkscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHosts Benevolent Beers fundraising events where a portion of purchases between 5:00-8:00 PM are donated to ECWC. These events raise awareness and funds for free-of-charge programming.
• Allegheny Health NetworkcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHealthcare network that refers patients to ECWC services. Their patients benefit from the free supportive care provided by ECWC.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Direct peers

• Smith Center for Healing and the Arts: A Washington, D.C. nonprofit integrating arts, wellness, and community support programs for individuals and families facing cancer. Comparable emphasis on creative arts, mind-body programs, and community-based service delivery.
• Wellness House: A Hinsdale, Illinois-based nonprofit offering free programs, support groups, and educational classes to people impacted by cancer. Closely mirrors ECWC's body/mind/spirit wellness framework and free community-based delivery model.
• The Gathering Place: A community cancer support center in Beachwood, Ohio offering free programs, support groups, and wellness services to cancer patients, survivors, and families in the Cleveland area. Comparable scale, service mix, and free-of-charge community-led model.
• Open Arms Wellness Center: A small community-based cancer wellness nonprofit offering free support services, yoga, and wellness programs to cancer patients and survivors in the southeast U.S. Closely comparable in scale, free program model, and community-led delivery.
• Gilda's Club: Community-based cancer support centers offering free emotional support, educational workshops, and social activities to men, women, and children touched by cancer. Now affiliated with Cancer Support Community, Gilda's Club locations are the closest functional peer to ECWC's local center model.
• Living Well Cancer Resource Center: A Geneva, Illinois nonprofit offering free programs, counseling, and integrative wellness services to those affected by cancer. Highly comparable mission, scale, and free program-based delivery model.

Broad incumbents

• American Cancer Society: The largest U.S. voluntary health organization focused on cancer, providing patient support, education, and survivorship resources. A broad incumbent whose patient-services portfolio overlaps with ECWC's supportive-care offering.
• CancerCare: A national nonprofit providing free professional support services including counseling, support groups, education, and financial assistance to anyone affected by cancer. Overlaps significantly with ECWC's psychosocial and educational programming but at much larger national scale.
• Livestrong Foundation: National nonprofit supporting people affected by cancer through navigation, education, and survivorship programming. Broader and more established than ECWC but addresses overlapping participant needs.
• Cancer Support Community: A national nonprofit network providing free psychosocial support, educational programs, and wellness services to cancer patients and families. Highly comparable mission and service mix to ECWC, but at a national scale with hundreds of affiliate locations.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/eriecancerwellnesscenter
• Instagraminstagram.com/eriecancerwellnesscenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/erie-cancer-wellness-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Erie Cancer Wellness Center